Delayed ventilation cigarette

ABSTRACT

A DELAYED DILUTION OR VENTILATION TYPE CIGARETTE IN WHICH THE CIGARETTE HAS AN INNER SLEEVE OF A SUITABLE MATERIAL ENCLOSING THE TOBACCO FILLER ALONG A LENGTH THEREOF FROM THE BUTT END A DISTANCE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER END. THE INNER SLEEVE IN TURN IS ENCLOSED BY THE CONVENTIONAL OR OUTER PAPER WRAPPER OF THE TOBACCO CYLINDER, SUCH SLEEVE INCLUDING PROJECTIONS OR OPENINGS IN THE SURFACE THEREOF WHICH COOPERATE WITH THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE OUTER WRAPPER TO FORM A SERIES OF CIGARETTE VENTILATION PASSAGES WITHIN THE CIGARETTE STRUCTURE, THE VENTILATION PASSAGES BEING PLACED IN COMMUNICATION WITH ATMOSPHERE ONLY AFTER ABOUT HALF THE LENGTH OF THE TOBACCO CYLINDER LENGTH HAS BEEN SMOKED.

Sept. 21, 1971' w sgN 3,606,892

DELAYED VENTILATION CIGARETTE Filed Dec. 5, 1969 United States Patent3,606,892 DELAYED VENTILATION CIGARETTE Gerald M. Wilson, Howardsville,Va., assignor to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, N.Y. Filed Dec.5, 1969, Ser. No. 882,601 Int. Cl. A24d 1/02 US. Cl. 13110A 8 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A delayed dilution or ventilation typecigarette in which the cigarette has an inner sleeve of a suitablematerial enclosing the tobacco filler along a length thereof from thebutt end a distance in the direction of the other end. The inner sleevein turn is enclosed by the conventional or outer paper wrapper of thetobacco cylinder, such sleeve including projections or openings in thesurface thereof which cooperate with the inside surface of the outerwrapper to form a series of cigarette ventilation passages within thecigarette structure, the ventilation passages being placed incommunication with atmosphere only after about half the length of thetobacco cylinder length has been smoked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aventilation type cigarette and more particularly a cigarette Whichallows for delay in the onset of ventilation or dilution of the smokepuffs until sometime after the smoker has started smoking the cigarette.

Ventilation of smoking articles and more specifically the ventilation ofcigarettes achieved by providing the cigarettes with means for admittinga flow of dilution or ventilation air to the smokestream or directly tothe smokers mouth along with the smoke puff are known in the art. Forexample, such means for ventilation can include ventilation openings inthe tobacco cylinder outer wrapper which allow concurrent intake ofventilation air with smoke during the course of pulling, the ventilationair serving to dilute the smokestream thereby realizing a lesserdelivery of smoke particulates and gas phase components to the smokersmouth. It is also possible to provide cigarette ventilation or dilutionby crimping or pleating the outer tobacco cylinder wrapper to provide itwith air passages, as for example, in the manner shown in US. Pats.2,667,170 and 3,228,402. However, there is a problem associated withcigarette ventilation in that most smokers find that smokestreamdilution detracts from taste satisfaction, especially during the earlierpuffs. On the other hand, smokestream dilution during the later puffswhen there is a higher smoke delivery does not diminish tastesatisfaction to any noticeable degree and in some instances enhances thesame. It is also known to treat cigarettes in a manner which allows fordelayed dilution by providing the outer wrapper with a series ofopenings which are filled with a vaporizable or meltable barriermaterial which becomes activated in the course of the smoking of thecigarette as by heat, or by moisture in the hot smokestream deliveredfrom the burning coal. Thus, the Figge Pat. 2,992,647, disclosesperforating the cigarette paper wrapper and filling the erforatedopenings with a barrier material which for a time precludes incursion ofventilation air to the tobacco cylinder but which becomes activated byheat from the burning coal a distance in advance of the latter todissolve and thereby open the tobacco cylinder to atmosphere to admitentry of ventilation air. However, the incorporation of this mode ofventilation in cigarettes is not easily achieved; paricularly withrespect to the manufacturing of the cigarette on a high speed producionbasis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with adelayed dilution or ventilation type cigarette being applicable in itsprinciples to both filter and non-filter type cigarettes. An importantpurpose of the invention is to provide a cigarette which gives thesmoker a more satisfying all-smoke puff during the early stages ofsmoking but an air dilution of the cigarette which enhances the taste aswell as dilutes the heavy smoke associated with the later stages ofsmoking. According to the present invention, the cigarette is providedwith a special inner sleeve of a suitable combustible material, as forexample, paper extending along and wrapped around a length of thetobacco filler extending from the butt end of the cigarette in thedirection of the other end. The inner sleeve tightly wraps around thetobacco filler confining the filler along a portion of the length of thetobacco cylinder. The inner sleeve in turn, and the remaining length ofthe tobacco cylinder is wrapped in an outer wrapping of readilycombusted paper conventionally employed as cigarette wrapping. The innersleeve embodies means therein which cooperate with the outer paperwrapper to define a series of substantially continuous ventilationpassages within the cigarette at the butt end. Such passages are notcommunicated with atmosphere during the early stages of smoking beingplaced in communication with atmosphere for intake of dilution air onlyafter the cigarette has been smoked to some predetermined length, e.g.,to a point at about mid-length of the tobacco cylinder.

The continuous ventilation passages can be provided by making the innersleeve in the form of a corrugated structure such as corrugated paperhaving a generally smooth outer surface :provided with a pattern ofprojections or protuberant structure which function to engage the innersurface of the outer paper wrapper and thereby space the main body ofthe sleeve sufliciently from said outer wrapper inner surface to allowsubstantial passage means within the cigarette through which dilutionair can flow to the smokers mouth. It is also possible that the sleevebe made as a structured paper having a series of longitudinally alignedand circularly spaced openings in the structure. When the cigarette hasbeen smoked to a predetermined point and the sleeve starts to burn, theventilation passages formed by the sleeve and outer wrap- :per areplaced in communication with atmosphere to allow he intake of dilutionair streams to the cigarette with the air entering the cigarette aroundthe periphery of the burning coal.

If the cigarette is made as a filter type, one end of the sleeve abutswith an end face of the filter plug, and the filter plug in turn issecured to the outer paper wrapping with a tipping paper overlay. Theinvention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified .in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A fuller understanding of the natureand objects of the invention will be had from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a delayed dilution orventilation type cigarette made in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the cigarette shown in FIG. 1as taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of inner paper sleeve asembodied in the cigarette shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view illustrating themanner in which the ventilation cigarette of the present inventionfunctions to admit ventilation air.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of inner paper sleeve whichcan be used in the cigarette of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 5 astaken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

Throughout the description like reference numerals are used to denotelike parts in the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The ventilation cigarette ofthe present invention is designed to be manufactured readily withexisting manufacturing techniques and with the use of existing cigarettemaking machinery. 'In its construction, it is equally suited for use inboth filter as well as non-filter type cigarettes. In connection withthe use of the present invention with non-filter type cigarettes, itwill be understood that the ensuing description of the preferredembodiment .as described with respect to the filter cigarette shown inFIG. 1 is to be taken as being equally applicable to a non-filter typecigarette. Turning now to a consideration of the cigarette 10 shown inFIG. 1, the cigarette includes a tobacco cylinder comprised of the usualcylindricalshaped mass of shredded tobacco 12 which can vary in length,e.g., from 6 5 mm. to 85 mm. and which is enclosed by a wrapping 1-3 ofcigarette paper in conventional manner. In the case of a filter typecigarette, the thus formed tobacco cylinder can be joined to acylindrical =filter element 14 of known construction, e.g., a tow ofcellulose acetate wrapped in a paper cylinder 16 in the form of a plugwhich in turn is joined to the tobacco cylinder with an overwrap oftipping paper 18 in the customary manner.

As was indicated above, the tobacco 12 is confined in cylindrical fromalong only part of its length by paper wrapper 13, the remaining portionactually being confined within inner sleeve 20. The inner sleeve 20 alsois comprised of a wrapping of burnable paper which serves with the outerwrapping 13 to define within the body of the tobacco cylinder,ventilation passage means 30 to admit ventilation or dilution airstreams to the smokers mouth upon pufiing but only after the cigarettehas been smoked to a predetermined length. In general, the length of theinner wrapping or sleeve 20 will vary depending upon the point in thecourse of smoking at which dilution is to be initiated. A particularlysuitable sleeve length is one wherein the sleeve is approximatelyone-half the length of the tobacco cylinder, the sleeve being positionedto extend from the butt end of the tobacco cylinder to about mid-lengthof the tobacco cylinder.

The inner wrapping or sleeve 20 can be formed in various ways to suitthe purpose of providing cooperatively with outer wrapping 13,ventilation air passage means 30 at the inside of the cigarette. In oneform, the sleeve 20 can be formed as a cylinder of embossed paper, thepaper being readily combustible so as to burn in company with the outerwrapping 13 as the burning coal 25 reaches about mid-length of thetobacco cylinder in the course of smoking the cigarette. As can be seenin FIG. 3, the embossed paper cylinder 20 has a generally cylindricalshape with the main body part having a generally smooth surface along asubstantial expanse of the sleeve, the areas of such surface beingdenoted generally at 27. The cylinder also includes a plurality ofcorrugated projections 28 arranged in a suitable manner about the bodyof the sleeve and having a suitable surface configuration, e.g., convexoval. The projections can be in the sleeve in a variety of patternsincluding the axially and circularly disposed row arrangement shown. Theprojections 28 also could be arranged in a random arrangement as long asthe smooth surface areas 27 include at least one continuous unobstructedpath from one end of the sleeve to the other.

The projections 28 serve the function when they are encircled andtightly engaged by the outer wrapping 13, to hold the smooth areas 27 ofthe sleeve 20 spaced from the inner surface of the wrapping 13 therebyto form the ventilation passages 30. The manner in which the projections28 function can be further understood with reference to FIG. 2 whereincertain of the projections 28 can be seen as being engaged tightly attheir tips or peaks by wrapping 13-, with the smooth sunface areas ofthe sleeve 20 intervened by the respective projections being spaced somedistance from the inner surface of the wrapping 10. The thus definedspaces provide the ventilation passages 30. The size of the flowchannels constituted by passages 30 of course determine the degree ofdilution which is achieved when the ventilation means becomes operative.The projection 28 preferably are of a low profile having a heightoutstanding from the smooth areas in the range .020-.030.

In use, the sleeve 20 functions to admit ventilating or diluting streamsof cool fresh air to the smokers mouth when he takes a puff on thecigarette at some time after he has started smoking the cigarette. Suchdilution air.

of course will commingle with the smoke in the filter 14 of the filtertype cigarette shown. On the other hand, with a non-filter typecigarette the dilution air will be delivered to the smokers mouth withlittle of any commingling. As was indicated earlier, dilution is delayeduntil some time after commencement of smoking, e.g., until about onehalfthe length of the tobacco cylinder has been smoked. At the latter pointand as shown in FIG. 4, the paper sleeve 20 will start to burn inconjunction with the smoking of the cigarette and combustion of theshredded tobacco filler 12 and the outer wrapping 13. With thishappening, the ventilation passages 30 which up to this point wereisolated from atmosphere, become exposed to the atmosphere and entry ofthe cooling and diluting streams of air around the periphery of theburning coal is possible. The entry of the diluting or cooling air isalong the flow paths denoted with arrows in 'FIG. 4. It will beunderstood that the burning coal 25 does not burn with the sameintensity at the periphery thereof as at the center and hence the airentering into the passages 30 does not become heated to any appreciableextent.

FIG. 5 illustrates another form of sleeve 50 which instead of beingprovided with projections has an arrangement or network of openings 51therein, the sleeve being formed in such a manner that the juncture ofthe each opening 51 with those adjacent is at or along a very thin webas shown at 52. The areas of the sheet adjacent the webs 52 can beformed with a depressed surface at 53 to insure communication betweeneach hole and those adjacent thereto to provide an unobstructed airpassage.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the ventilated cigarette of thepresent invention is readily adapted to utilization in existingcigarette making machines. For example, the outer wrapping material issupplied to the cigarette making machine from a roll of such material.It would be convenient then that the inner sleeve be formed by adheringa corresponding length of suitably embossed paper to the inner face ofthe outer wrapping material. In this manner the combined wrappingassembly can be fed into the cigarette making machine during thewrapping of the tobacco.

While there is above disclosed but some embodiments of ventilation typecigarette of the present invention, it is possible to produce stillother embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventiveconcept herein disclosed, and accordingly it should be understood thatall matter contained in the above description and accompanying drawingshould be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilation type of cigarette comprising an elongated cylinder ofshredded tobacco,

an inner sleeve of combustible material enclosing said tobacco cylinderalong a portion of the length thereof from the butt end of said tobaccocylinder a distance in the direction of the smoking end thereof to alocation intermediate the ends of said tobacco cylinder, and

an outer combustible wrapping enclosing said inner sleeve and theremaining length of said cylinder of tobacco, said outer wrapping havinga smooth inner surface, said inner sleeve being characterized byembodiment therein of means cooperating with said smooth inner surfaceof said outer wrapping to define with the latter a plurality ofsubstantially continuous ventilation passages within said cigarette,said ventilation passages being placed in communication with atmospherewhen said tobacco cylinder has been smoked to said location wherebyventilation air is drawn through said ventilation passages concurrentlywith pufiing of the cigarette during the final stages of smoking saidcigarette.

2. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidinner sleeve is provided with areas of smooth surface and withprojections outstanding from said smooth surface, said projections beingtightly engaged by said outer wrapping and spacing said smooth surfacefrom the inner surface of said outer wrapping thereby to define saidventilation passages.

3. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidprojections are arranged in longitudinally and circularly disposed rowson said sleeve.

4. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidprojections are convex oval in shape.

5. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 1 furthercomprising a filter element joined, to the tobacco cylinder at the buttend of the latter.

6. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidinner sleeve and said outer wrapping are made of paper.

7. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidinner sleeve is made of a structured paper provided with a pluralityofopenings therein, each opening being joined with the openings adjacentthereto by a relatively thin web of paper.

8. A ventilation type cigarette in accordance with claim 7 wherein thethin web joining each opening with those adjacent thereto has areas ofreduced thickness.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,256 12/1882 Bourgeois131-15BUX 1,718,122 6/1929 De Shon 131-9 2,098,619 11/1937 Finnell13115BUX 2,667,170 1/1954 Lebert 131 9 3,228,402 1/1966 Lebert 131-1513FOREIGN PATENTS 668,052 8/1963 Canada 131 9' ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, PrimaryExaminer J. F. PITRELLI, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l31-9, 15B

